Complaint: Former Sheboygan mayor grabbed woman's chest

Incident dates back to July 2011

A criminal complaint filed by Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco outlines the incident that led to fourth-degree sexual assault charges against a former mayor.

The complaint described a July 23, 2011 incident that involved former mayor Bob Ryan and a patron at resort in Elkhart Lake.

The complaint states that the 30-year-old woman arrived at the bar area of Siebken's Resort after 11 p.m. and sat at the bar. As she spoke with a friend, she told police she felt two hands come from behind her and grab her breasts over her clothing.

She told police she turned and told the person to keep his hands off of her.

According to the complaint, the incident was repeated a few minutes later.

According to police interviews, the woman did not realize at the time who the man was. Her friend, however, identified the man as Ryan.

She said that Ryan "Reeked" of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet.

A bartender at the resort witnessed the second incident, saying that he saw Ryan grab at the woman's chest and that the incident occured in "a split second.

Ryan was interviewed by police on Nov. 21. He admitted to being at Siebken's Resort over a three-day weekend in July. He told investigators that he had a drink at anotehr establishment before walking to the bar.

He told investigators that after the initial drink, "the 'switch' got turned on," which police said was a reference to continued and heavy drinking.

Ryan said he recalled being confronted by a young woman at the bar, but adamently denied the allegations made by the woman.

Ryan was ousted from office in a Feb. 21 recall election begun by residents after several incidents of public drunkenness on the part of Ryan.

He acknowledged that he was an alcoholic and said he had entered treatment following the incident in Elkhart lake.

Ryan could face 9 months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines for each of the Class A misdemeanor charges.